France to pave 1000km of roads with solar panels

Issue 

Over the next five years, France will install 1000 kilometres of solar roadway using Colas' Wattway solar pavement.

The collaboration between Colas, a transport infrastructure company, and France's National Institute for Solar Energy (INES) is sanctioned by France's Agency of Environment and Energy Management.

The new Wattway system does not replace the road itself, but is designed to be glued onto the top of existing pavement.

At just 7mm thick, the material is strong enough to stand up to regular traffic, even heavy trucks. A one kilometre stretch of Wattway road should "provide the electricity to power public lighting in a city of 5000 inhabitants".

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